Ben Davis Invitational Preview

This year Ben Davis Cross Country has had to modify their
course slightly, to accommodate for ongoing construction in the old driving
range field, where most teams usually set up team camp. It also appears team
camps will be moved from that area for this year's meet. Below you will find
the new course for the 2017 cross country season. Next year the course should
return to what is has been for years.

Enough about the course, and time for some predictions on
the actual race. Some teams this weekend may be missing a few of their runners'
due to the ACT taking place, but others will have their full squads in tack and
ready to run.

In the boys race the top individual should be Southport's Michael
Cook, who has a PR this season of 15:53. He'll be followed closely by Avon's
Ethan Goddard who has a PR just one second behind. Avon is the clear team
favorite in this meet. They should easily have their top 5 in the top 25 at the
finish. Brownsburg could be 2nd with West Lafayette in 3rd.
But with conditions being almost perfect for cross country things could shake
up depending on who decides to go out strong through the race. Especially with
a new course in place, it could help some runners more than others.

The girls race will host some of the top names in the state.
Emma Wilson being the biggest of them all. She currently holds the state #3
time this season and is the easy favorite to win the girls race this year. She has
a PR of almost 30 seconds ahead of Kayla Mcculloch of East Noble, the number 2
in this race. Freshman standout Abby Lynch from Brownsburg could take 3rd
but also be a contender for 1st if she pulls out a fast time and
hangs with Wilson for a good portion of the race.

With Greencastle being short runners to score as a team,
Brownsburg is the favorite to take the team title this year, with their top 5
scoring in the top 15. West Lafayette is the top contender to take 2nd

Watch for live updates from this meet on our Twitter. Race
videos and interviews will be up on the site by Sunday from this meet and
others across the state.